U.S. patent application number 15/451592 was filed with the patent office on 2017-09-07 for wheel for a vehicle window wiper drive system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage. The applicant listed for this patent is Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage. Invention is credited to Stephane Beauchamps, Laurent Collinet, Alain Servin.
Application Number | 20170253217 15/451592 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 55752630 |
Filed Date | 2017-09-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20170253217 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Servin; Alain ; et
al. |
September 7, 2017 |
WHEEL FOR A VEHICLE WINDOW WIPER DRIVE SYSTEM
Abstract
1. Wheel (100) far a vehicle window wiper drive system, said
wheel comprising electrical contact means (400), a first and a
second electrical contact means (410, 411) of said electrical
contact means being in electrical continuity, and the first and the
second electrical contact means being for a respective slider
(200a, 200b), said wheel being characterized in that the angular
extension (a) of said electrical contact means in the plane of the
wheel is strictly less than 360 and said electrical contact means
being situated on a face of the wheel intended to receive a
linkage.
Inventors: |
Servin; Alain; (Villiers,
FR) ; Collinet; Laurent; (La Roche Posay, FR)
; Beauchamps; Stephane; (Bruxerolles, FR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage |
Le Mesnil Saint Denis |
|
FR |
|
|
Assignee: |
Valeo Systemes d'Essuyage
Le Mesnil Saint Denis
FR
|
Family ID: |
55752630 |
Appl. No.: |
15/451592 |
Filed: |
March 7, 2017 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H01H 1/40 20130101; H01H
19/585 20130101; H02K 11/21 20160101; B60S 1/166 20130101; B60S
1/26 20130101; B60S 1/08 20130101; B60S 1/0803 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B60S 1/26 20060101
B60S001/26; B60S 1/08 20060101 B60S001/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 7, 2016 |
FR |
1651867 |
Claims
1. A wheel for a vehicle window wiper drive system, said wheel
comprising: electrical contact means, a first and a second
electrical contact means of said electrical contact means being in
electrical continuity, and the first and the second electrical
contact means being for a respective slider, wherein the angular
extension of said electrical contact means in the plane of the
wheel is strictly less than 360.degree., and wherein said
electrical contact means is situated on a face of the wheel for
receiving a linkage.
2. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the angular extension of
the electrical contact means in the plane of the wheel is less than
45.degree..
3. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
electrical contact means are combined and form a single conductive
stud arranged radially.
4. The wheel according to claim 1, wherein the first and second
electrical contact means each comprise a stud connected by a
conductor.
5. The wheel according to claim 1, further comprising an
electrically conductive segment in the form of a circle arc forming
the first electrical contact means, said circle arc segment
comprising a radial protrusion forming the second electrical
contact means.
5. The wheel according to claim 5, wherein the face of the wheel
comprises a first track and a second track for a respective slider,
the first track being partly formed by the circle arc segment and
the second track being partly formed by the protrusion.
7. The wheel according to claim 6, wherein the circle arc segment
extends along a circular rib provided on the face of the wheel,
said circular rib being intended to isolate the sliders
electrically when they slide on a respective track of the
wheel.
8. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein the rib comprises an
interruption, the protrusion at least partially occupying said
interruption.
9. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein the rib carries one of
the tracks.
10. The wheel according to claim 9, wherein at least one of the
ends of the interruption forms a ramp.
11. The wheel according to claim 7, wherein the rib extends between
the first and the second tracks.
12. A reduction gear housing for a vehicle window wiper drive
system comprising a wheel according to claim 1.
12. The reduction gear housing according to claim 12, further
comprising a cover, the inner face of said cover comprising a first
and a second electrically conductive slider, one end of the first
slider being intended to come into contact with the first
electrical contact and one end of the second slider being
configured to come into contact with the second electrical contact
in one position of the wheel and when the cover is closed.
14. The reduction gear housing according to claim 13, wherein: the
radial position of the end of the first slider is identical to that
of the first electrical contact and the radial position of the end
of the second slider is identical to that of the second electrical
contact, and the angular sector contained between the ends of the
first and second sliders is equal to the angular sector contained
between the first and second electrical contacts.
15. A drive system for a vehicle window wiper, comprising a motor
and a reduction gear housing according to claim 12.
16. A system for wiping a motor vehicle window, comprising: a drive
system according to claim 15; and at least one wiper blade.
Description
[0001] The invention concerns a wheel for a window wiper drive
mechanism, for example for a vehicle rear window wiper, a housing
enclosing such a mechanism, and a window wiper drive system
comprising such a motor and such a housing.
[0002] Window wiper systems, in particular those fitted to motor
vehicles, comprise a system for controlling the reciprocating
movement of the wiper blade with a motor. In certain cases, for
example in the case of a rear window wiper, the system also
comprises a linkage arrangement for transforming the rotating
movement of the motor into a reciprocating movement of the wiper
blade.
[0003] Also, such a system must comprise a device allowing the
wiper to return to a rest position when the user stops the
operation of the wiper mechanism. In fact this interruption may
occur at any position of the wiper blade on the glass, while it
must necessarily return to its rest position before stopping
definitively.
[0004] To this end, devices are known which comprise a rotary
switch mounted on a wheel fixed to the motor and installed in
parallel with the wiper control switch. Thus the motor continues to
be powered until the rotary switch detects a rest position of the
wiper blade and switches off the motor power (e.g. FR 2 830 672 and
FR 2 830 673). Another switch may intervene to short-circuit the
motor and thus stop it immediately in order to avoid the inertia
effect.
[0005] Such switches generally comprise a metallic annular cam
mounted on a wheel driven by the motor, and contact elements (or
sliders) which each slide on a track, continuous or not, of this
cam.
[0006] Because of the presence of the linkage elements and the
bulkiness of the sliders, the latter together with the cam are
generally situated on the face of the wheel opposite the linkage
elements. Therefore the housing (referred to below as the reduction
gear housing) containing the wheel, the linkage elements and the
sliders is relatively large.
[0007] Also, the presence on board motor vehicles of controllers of
all the electrical functions of the vehicle, known as body
controllers, has modified the design of the devices for setting the
wiper blades to the rest position. In fact the motor is now
controlled directly by the controller and no longer by a rotary
switch. It is sufficient for the controller to receive information
on the position of the wiper blade on the window, which enables it
to manage its stoppage in the rest position. This information need
not be continuous; it is sufficient to have intermittent
information, for example a voltage peak (top) at the moment when
the wiper blade approaches its rest position.
[0008] The invention aims to benefit from the presence of a
controller in the vehicle to reduce the volume of the reduction
gear housing and to make material savings.
[0009] To this end, the invention proposes a wheel for a vehicle
window wiper drive system, characterized in that it comprises, on a
face of the wheel intended to receive a linkage, a first and a
second electrical contact means for a respective slider, said
electrical contact means being in electrical continuity, and in
that the angular extension of said electrical contact means in the
plane of the wheel is strictly less than 360.degree..
[0010] In the invention, the electrical contact means are situated
on the face of the wheel intended to carry the linkage, and they
have a limited angular extension in the plane of the wheel. In any
case, the presence of the linkage on this face of the wheel greatly
restricts the installation of the electrical contact means and
sliders. Such a linkage is found for example on rear window wiper
systems.
[0011] Thus space is saved and material is saved.
[0012] The electrical contact means comprise at least a first and a
second electrical contact means.
[0013] The wheel is generally made of a non-conductive material,
for example plastic material, and is produced by moulding.
[0014] The electrical contact means may be fixed to the
non-conductive material by any known, notably by over moulding,
gluing, hot plastic riveting etc.
[0015] The sliders are intended, in operation, to slide over the
wheel and in particular over the electrical contact means in one
angular position of the wheel. When the sliders pass over the
electrical contact means, because these contact means are connected
by a conductor, they close the contact between the sliders and send
a current or voltage peak to the controller. This current or
voltage peak gives the controller information on the angular
position of the wheel.
[0016] Advantageously, the angular extension of the electrical
contact means in the plane of the wheel is less than 180.degree.
preferably less than 90.degree., or even less than 45.degree..
[0017] The invention proposes several embodiments for the
electrical contact means, in particular the first and second
electrical contact means: [0018] they may be combined and form a
single conductive stud; in this case, the angular extension is that
of the stud and may be very small, in particular if this stud takes
the form of a bar arranged radially; [0019] they may be not
combined and each comprise a stud connected by a conductor; such
studs may take the form of metal bars or plates of small
dimensions, connected by a conductive wire or metal track; [0020]
the wheel may comprise an electrically conductive segment in the
form of a circle arc, forming the first contact means, said circle
arc segment comprising a radial protrusion, the radial protrusion
forming the second electrical contact means; in this case, the
first and second contact means form a "mini-cam", i.e. a cam of
limited angular extension in the plane of the wheel, strictly less
than 360.degree., for example close to 90.degree.; the conductor
connecting the two electrical contact means is the circle arc
segment itself.
[0021] Advantageously, the face of the wheel may comprise a first
track and a second track for a respective slider, the first track
being partly formed by the circle arc segment and the second track
being partly formed by the protrusion.
[0022] The sliders are intended, in operation, to slide over the
face of the wheel intended to receive the linkage and the contact
means. Irrespective of the shape of the electrical contact means,
it is advantageous to provide tracks on this face of the wheel
which are specially designed to allow the sliders to slide without
damaging the wheel. In the case where the electrical contact means
comprise a circle arc segment, the segment itself may form a part
of the first track for a first slider, the extension forming a part
of the second track for a second slider.
[0023] There is therefore an angular sector in which the second
slider slides over the non-conductive material of the wheel but
close to the annular segment, which may pose problems of
undesirable short-circuit between the sliders.
[0024] Advantageously, the circle arc segment may extend along a
circular rib provided on the face of the wheel, said circular rib
being intended to isolate the sliders electrically when they slide
over a respective track of the wheel.
[0025] This rib, for example composed of the same non-conductive
material as the wheel, allows the sliders to be isolated from each
other when sliding on their respective tracks.
[0026] Advantageously, the rib may comprise an interruption, the
protrusion at least partially occupying said interruption.
[0027] Advantageously, the rib may carry one of the tracks.
[0028] In this case, the two sliders, in operation, are offset in
an axial direction, thus avoiding undesirable short-circuits.
[0029] Advantageously, the face of the wheel may comprise a first
track and a second track for a respective slider, the first track
being partly formed by the circle arc segment and the second track
being partly formed by the protrusion, so as to facilitate the
"rise" and/or "fall" of the slider on the raised track relative to
the plane of the wheel.
[0030] Alternatively, the rib may extend between the first and
second tracks.
[0031] In this case, the two sliders are, in operation, separated
by a rib which may be narrower than in the previous embodiment.
[0032] The invention also comprises a reduction gear housing for a
vehicle window wiper drive system comprising a wheel according to
the invention, for example a rear window wiper drive system.
[0033] Advantageously, the housing may comprise a cover, the inner
face of said cover comprising a first and a second electrically
conductive slider, one end of the first slider being intended to
come into contact with the first electrical contact and one end of
the second slider being intended to come into contact with the
second electrical contact in one position of the wheel and when the
cover is closed.
[0034] Advantageously, the radial position of the end of the first
slider may be identical to that of the first electrical contact,
and the radial position of the end of the second slider may be
identical to that of the second electrical contact, and the angular
sector contained between the ends of the first and second sliders
may be equal to the angular sector contained between the first and
second electrical contacts.
[0035] The invention also concerns a drive system for a vehicle
window wiper, comprising a motor and a reduction gear housing as
described above.
[0036] The invention also concerns a system for wiping a vehicle
window, comprising such a drive system and at least one wiper
blade.
[0037] Embodiments and variants are described below as
non-limitative examples, with reference to the attached drawings in
which:
[0038] FIG. 1 shows in perspective a wheel for a vehicle window
wiper drive system comprising a single stud,
[0039] FIG. 2 shows in perspective the wheel comprising two studs
with an angular offset,
[0040] FIG. 3 shows in perspective the wheel comprising an annular
segment with a protuberance,
[0041] FIG. 4 shows in perspective an enlarged view of the slider
contact zone, illustrating an embodiment with a rib,
[0042] FIGS. 5A to 5C show diagrammatically three embodiments of
the annular segment and of a rib in plan view,
[0043] FIG. 6 shows in perspective a vehicle window wiper drive
system comprising a motor and a reducing gear housing, with the
cover of the reducing gear housing removed, and
[0044] FIG. 7 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a system for
wiping a vehicle window using the window wiper drive system in FIG.
6.
[0045] FIG. 1 illustrates a wheel 100 for a vehicle window wiper
drive system, comprising an axial hub 101 and an eccentric housing
102 for a connecting rod, and able to be driven in the direction of
arrow F. To this end, it comprises teeth or notches 120 on its
periphery in order to be driven by engagement, but it could also be
driven by any other means.
[0046] A first and a second slider 200a, 200b are also shown which
are not integral with the wheel but are useful for understanding of
the invention. The ends 210a, 210b of the sliders are intended, in
operation, to slide over an annular portion 110 of the wheel,
situated on the edge of the wheel 100 in the example of FIG. 1.
This annular portion 110 in fact forms a first and a second track
111a, 111b for a respective slider 200a, 200b, shown in parallel,
the first track 111a being the outer track and indicated
(partially) in short dashes, the second track 111b being the inner
track and indicated (partially) in long dashes. The wheel 100 is
made of non-conductive material, such that the circuit between the
sliders is open when they are sliding over their respective
tracks.
[0047] The wheel here illustrated has electrical contact means
comprising a first and a second electrical contact means that are
combined and form a single conductive stud 300. The annular portion
110 comprises an electrically conductive stud 300, for example
metallic, forming an electrical contact means and arranged so as to
cover the first and second tracks. When, during rotation of the
wheel 100, the ends 210a, 210b pass over the stud 300, this
short-circuits the first and second sliders and creates a pulse or
top for a controller placed further downstream and not shown. This
pulse gives the controller information on the angular position of
the wheel and hence of the wiper arm.
[0048] In the example of FIG. 1, the single stud 300 is arranged
radially such that its angular extension is limited to a few
degrees. It may be attached to the wheel by any known means (gluing
etc.). It may protrude slightly beyond the plane of the annular
portion 110 or be housed in a groove on the annular portion 110 so
as not to protrude.
[0049] One drawback of this embodiment is that the sliders,
although not parallel, are very close together, which firstly is
not always compatible with the dimensions of the sliders and
secondly risks creating undesirable short-circuits between the
sliders.
[0050] FIG. 2 illustrates a second embodiment of the wheel 100 in
which the sliders have been omitted for greater clarity. In this
second embodiment, the wheel 100 comprises electrical contact means
comprising a first stud 310a that forms a first electrical contact
means and a second stud 310b that forms a second electrical contact
means. The wheel 100 comprises an annular portion 110 with a first
and a second track 111a, 111b. The first track 111a comprises the
first stud 310a and the second track comprises the second stud
310b, both electrically conductive and offset angularly but
connected by a conductor 310c and fixed to the annular portion by
any known means; the conductive wire 310c may for example be housed
in a groove provided in the face of the wheel intended to receive a
linkage. The studs may consist of bars, contact plates or other. As
shown, the first and second studs 310a, 310b are angularly offset
by an angle a close to 45.degree..
[0051] In this embodiment, the ends 210a, 210b of the sliders are
offset by the same angle .alpha. so as to pass simultaneously over
a respective stud 310a, 310b during rotation of the wheel 100. As
in the first embodiment, the simultaneous passage of the sliders
over a respective stud puts the sliders into short-circuit.
[0052] FIG. 3 illustrates a third embodiment of the wheel 100. In
this embodiment, the electrical contact means 400 comprise a
conductive circle arc segment 410 or mini-cam, for example
metallic, fixed to the annular portion 110 by any known means
(gluing, hot plastic riveting etc.) and forming the first
electrical contact means. The circle arc segment 410 comprises a
so-called inner edge facing the axis of rotation of the wheel, and
a so-called outer edge facing the edge of the wheel. Such a circle
arc segment is generally arranged close to the edge of the wheel
for better measuring precision.
[0053] The circle arc segment 410 comprises a radial protrusion 411
on one edge, here its outer edge, and forming the second electrical
contact means. The first track 111a of the first slider 200a
comprises the protrusion 411, the second track 111b of the second
slider 200b comprises the circle arc segment 410. An electrical
contact is created between the first and second sliders when their
respective ends slide over the circle arc segment 410 and the
protrusion 411.
[0054] In this embodiment, the first electrical contact means 410
and the conductor connecting the first and second electrical
contact means are combined.
[0055] As shown, the angular extension a of the electrical contact
means 400, which here corresponds to that of the circle arc segment
410, is close to 90.degree..
[0056] As shown on FIG. 3, there are angular positions of the wheel
in which the end 210a of the first slider 200a is very close to the
outer edge of the circle arc segment 410, and hence in which there
is a risk of undesirable short-circuit between the sliders. The
invention proposes several solutions for avoiding this risk.
[0057] FIG. 4 illustrates a first variant of the third embodiment.
In this variant, the face of the wheel intended to receive a
linkage comprises a circular rib 500 which rises from the plane of
the wheel, and hence from the annular portion 110, by a height h.
It is sufficiently wide to carry the first track 111a on its top.
The rib 500 comprises an interruption 501 in which the protrusion
411 of the circle arc segment 410 lies, this protrusion forming
part of the first track 111a.
[0058] In this way, when it slides over the rib 500, the end 210a
of the first slider 200a is axially spaced from the end 210b of the
second slider 200b, avoiding the risk of undesirable
short-circuit.
[0059] In FIG. 4, the rib 500 forms a raised edge of the wheel 100
but it could be arranged at any other location on the face of the
wheel.
[0060] In order to facilitate the passage of the end 210a of the
first slider 200a from the top of the rib 500 to the protrusion 411
and vice versa, each end of the interruption 501 of the rib 500
comprises a ramp 510a, 510b.
[0061] This variant is indicated diagrammatically in top view on
FIG. 5A.
[0062] FIG. 5B illustrates a variant of the third embodiment. In
this variant, a narrow rib 530 rises above the annular portion 110
and extends along the outer edge of the circular arc segment 410,
the rib and the segment preferably being in contact with each
other. The rib therefore extends between the two tracks 111a et
111b.
[0063] In operation, the sliders both slide over the annular
portion 110 of the wheel 100, and the rib ensures the electrical
isolation between the two sliders 200a, 200b. As in the preceding
variant, the rib 530 comprises an interruption to allow integration
of the protrusion 411 in the first track 111a.
[0064] FIG. 5C illustrates another variant of the third embodiment.
In this variant, the narrow rib 530 extends along the inner edge of
the metallic circle arc segment 410. The rib again extends between
the two tracks 111a and 111b and ensures the electrical isolation
between the two sliders 200a, 200b. It comprises an interruption to
allow integration of the protrusion 411 in the second track
111b.
[0065] In the variants of FIGS. 5B and 5C, the rib 530 is spaced
apart from the edge of the wheel 100.
[0066] In another variant (not shown), the rib 500 is situated
along the inner edge of the circle arc segment 410 and then carries
the second track 111b.
[0067] FIG. 6 shows a drive system 620 for a vehicle window wiper
blade comprising a wheel 100 according to the invention. This
system comprises a reduction gear housing 600 and a motor 610. The
wheel 100 is housed in a space in the housing and mounted so as to
rotate about a shaft 601 which is situated in the hub 101. It
comprises a circle arc segment 410 according to the third
embodiment. The figure also shows the first and second sliders
200a, 200b which are integral with a cover of the housing 610 (not
shown for greater clarity). An endless screw 602 driven by the
motor 610 engages on the notches 120 of the wheel 100. The housing
also comprises a linkage composed of two arms, a first arm 603
mounted so as to rotate in the eccentric housing 102 of the wheel,
one end of which arm engages with a toothed wheel integral with a
drive rod 605 of a window wiper blade, and a second arm 604 mounted
on the first arm 603 so as to rotate around the rod 605.
[0068] FIG. 7 shows a wiper system 9, here comprising two wiper
blades 10, each comprising a drive arm 11, one end of which is
connected to a blade 12 and the other opposite end of which is
connected by a linkage or rod systems 13 to an output shaft of the
drive system 620, such as that in FIG. 6.
* * * * *